USER INTERFACE FOR INPUT FUNCTIONS
An electronic device includes a touch screen for inputting text and hardware buttons for performing functions. A user inputs a sequence of letters and then actuates the hardware button which causes the system to perform an auto-correction if the input text is not recognized as a word and a space after the word. The hardware button can have multiple actuation modes including a touch actuation and a depression actuation. Each actuation mode can perform different system functions.
1 . An input method, comprising:
a computer system having a processor operatively coupled to a memory, a touch screen interface comprising a virtual keyboard which records taps of a touch object to generate text input and a hardware button;
tapping the virtual keyboard to input a first plurality of letters which are displayed sequentially on the touch screen;
actuating the hardware button to input a space which is displayed after the first plurality of letters; and
tapping the virtual keyboard to input a second plurality of letters which are displayed sequentially on the touch screen after the space.
2 . The input method of claim 1 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch.
3 . The input method of claim 1 wherein the hardware button is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
4 . The input method of claim 1 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch and the computer system includes a second hardware button that is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
5 . The input method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing tactile feedback when the hardware button is actuated.
6 . An input method, comprising:
a computer system having a processor operatively coupled to a memory, a touch screen interface comprising a virtual keyboard which records taps of a touch object to generate text input and a hardware button;
tapping the virtual keyboard to input a first plurality of letters which are displayed sequentially on the touch screen;
actuating the hardware button to perform an auto correct function on the first plurality of letters to change the first plurality of letters to a first corrected word;
removing the first plurality of letters from the touch screen; and
displaying the first corrected word on the touch screen.
7 . The input method of claim 6 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch.
8 . The input method of claim 6 wherein the hardware button is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
9 . The input method of claim 6 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch and the computer system includes a second hardware button that is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
10 . The input method of claim 6 further comprising:
providing tactile feedback when the hardware button is actuated.
11 . An input method, comprising:
a computer system having a processor operatively coupled to a memory, a touch screen interface comprising a virtual keyboard which records taps of a touch object to generate text input and a hardware button;
tapping the virtual keyboard to input a first plurality of letters which are displayed sequentially on the touch screen;
actuating the hardware button to perform letter delete function on the first plurality of letters;
removing a last letter input of the first plurality of letters from the touch screen; and
tapping the virtual keyboard to add a replacement letter to the first plurality of letters which is displayed on the touch screen.
12 . The input method of claim 11 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch.
13 . The input method of claim 11 wherein the hardware button is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
14 . The input method of claim 11 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch and the computer system includes a second hardware button that is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
15 . The input method of claim 11 further comprising:
providing tactile feedback when the hardware button is actuated.
16 . An input method, comprising:
a computer system having a processor operatively coupled to a memory, a touch screen interface comprising a virtual keyboard which records taps of a touch object to generate text input and a hardware button;
tapping the virtual keyboard to input a first plurality of letters which are displayed sequentially on the touch screen;
actuating the hardware button to perform a word delete function on the first plurality of letters;
removing the first plurality of letters from the touch screen; and
tapping the virtual keyboard to input a second plurality of letters which are displayed sequentially on the touch screen.
17 . The input method of claim 16 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch.
18 . The input method of claim 16 wherein the hardware button is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
19 . The input method of claim 16 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch and the computer system includes a second hardware button that is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
20 . The input method of claim 16 further comprising:
providing tactile feedback when the hardware button is actuated.
21 . An input method, comprising:
a computer system having a processor operatively coupled to a memory, a touch screen interface comprising a virtual keyboard which records taps of a touch object to generate text input and a hardware button;
tapping the virtual keyboard to input a first plurality of letters which are displayed sequentially on the touch screen;
actuating the hardware button to input a punctuation mark which is displayed after the first plurality of letters; and
tapping the virtual keyboard to input a second plurality of letters which are displayed sequentially on the touch screen after the space.
22 . The input method of claim 21 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch.
23 . The input method of claim 21 wherein the hardware button is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
24 . The input method of claim 21 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch and the computer system includes a second hardware button that is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
25 . The input method of claim 21 further comprising:
providing tactile feedback when the hardware button is actuated.
26 . An input method, comprising:
a computer system having a processor operatively coupled to a memory, a touch screen interface comprising a virtual keyboard which records taps of a touch object to generate text input and a hardware button;
tapping the virtual keyboard to input a first plurality of letters which are displayed sequentially on the touch screen;
actuating the hardware button to perform a word delete function on the first plurality of letters;
removing the first plurality of letters from the touch screen; and
tapping the virtual keyboard to input a second plurality of letters which are displayed sequentially on the touch screen.
27 . The input method of claim 26 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch.
28 . The input method of claim 26 wherein the hardware button is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
29 . The input method of claim 26 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch and the computer system includes a second hardware button that is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
30 . The input method of claim 26 further comprising:
providing tactile feedback when the hardware button is actuated.
31 . An input method, comprising:
a computer system having a processor operatively coupled to a memory, a touch screen interface comprising a virtual keyboard which records taps of a touch object to generate text input, a hardware button and an output controller for controlling the touch screen and an audio output;
displaying the virtual keyboard on the touch screen, wherein each letter occupies approximately an equal area on the virtual keyboard;
tapping the virtual keyboard to input a first plurality of letters which are displayed sequentially on the touch screen;
providing visual feedback to the tapping the virtual keyboard for each of the first plurality of letters;
actuating the hardware button to cause the output controller to provide feedback through the audio output mechanism;
tapping the virtual keyboard to input a second plurality of letters which are displayed sequentially on the touch screen; and
providing the audio feedback to the tapping the virtual keyboard for each of the second plurality of letters.
32 . The input method of claim 31 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch.
33 . The input method of claim 31 wherein the hardware button is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
34 . The input method of claim 31 wherein the hardware button is an electrical switch and the computer system includes a second hardware button that is a touch sensitive mechanism that is distinct from the touch screen.
35 . The input method of claim 31 further comprising:
providing tactile feedback when the hardware button is actuated.